On contemporary instruments, the short ‘drone’ string is the final of five strings, though those dating from the eighteenth century had just three long strings plus the chanterelle.

Before the onset of the Civil War in America, the banjo was seen as a quintessentially African-American musical instrument.

However, by the latter half of the nineteenth century, the majority of black musicians had cast it aside in favour of the guitar.

Another reason for its decline in popularity was the unpleasant fact that the banjo had become closely associated with the shocking racial stereotypes perpetrated by the players in black-face who performed in the popular minstrel shows at that time.

As shocking as it seems now, this type of ‘entertainment’ was wildly popular in both America and elsewhere in the world for more than a hundred years.

Minstrels fused classic African rhythms with forms of music from Europe, the result of which was pivotal to the development of American-style popular music.

The instrument we know today was undoubtedly modified from the African-American blueprint by the minstrels.

Virginian Joe Sweeney was the highest-profile minstrel performer, and his popularity contributed to the rise of the instrument, inspiring 1850s instrument designers to work on a five-string version.

Development of the Banjo in Traditional Irish Music

Over in Ireland the instrument was not embraced as part of the traditional music canon until the mid-twentieth century.

Before then, the instrument lurked on the periphery, being played by music hall performers and itinerant musicians.

The banjo that ultimately came to be synonymous with Irish musicians was not the version with five strings (as favoured by the minstrels and hillbillys) but was a four-stringed tenor design.

The dance halls of Ireland and those across the Atlantic in New York and beyond were the starting point for the traditional tenor instrument we know today.

The bands that played for the dancers were required to perform both Irish and American music, so they often added a tenor player to the line-up.

Dance bands in England copied the US groups, and their use inevitably spread to Ireland too.

Most of the Irish tenor players in those days were happy to simply to strum the instrument in a guitar-like style.

As the 1920s dawned, more Irish players started to pick out the reel, jig and hornpipe melodies, embellished with ornaments of several types.

In those days, the most significant player was Mike Flanagan (of Flanagan Brothers fame) who laid down multiple recordings alongside his brothers Louis (harp) and Joe (accordion).

Their records were bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic, and Flanagan’s instinctively brilliant playing inspired many Irish-based musicians to take the instrument.

Endless Appeal

The growing appeal of the tenor instrument was in large part connected to its volume. Like the accordion, it was loud enough to cut through the dance-hall din in the period before amplification became commonplace.

The popularity of Ceili bands reached its zenith in the 1940s and 1950s, followed by those who played more versatile mixes of country music and American pop-style tunes.

By the 1960s, the main focus of traditional music had shifted to the pubs, but because of its strident tone, the instrument was equally at home in noisy pub sessions.

Banjos being played in a session at the Ennis Trad Fest 2015. Photo: Bob Singer.

Seminal Player

The instrument received another boost during the folk and Irish traditional music revival in America, at which time the huge popularity of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers led to a wave of ballad-style groups in Ireland.

The four-string tenor had a vocal advocate in The Dubliners’ player Barney McKenna.

This was the group that forged the practice of fusing vocals (guitar-backed) with traditional reels and jigs.

McKenna is without doubt the most seminal Irish player of recent years.

With just a few exceptions, the majority of tenor players in Ireland today have followed in his footsteps by tuning their instruments to GDAE – one full octave below the mandolin or fiddle.

While this leads to a tone that is less bright than the typical CGDA tuning, the way that Barney calibrated his instrument made it far easier to play traditional dance music in the keys favoured by flautists, fiddlers and pipers.

As the traditional Irish music revival continued into the 1970s, the tenor banjo was utilised more and more by instrumentalists, with many guitarists discovering how well their picking ability translated to it.

A small minority of pedantic purists who disdain the tenor banjo as an overly noisy interloper into the Irish traditional music scene. Saying that, most contemporary musicians see it as an essential element of any folk band.

Event Details

The 68th Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will take place in Drogheda. This will be the first time in the history of the Fleadh that it is being held on the

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Event Details

The 68th Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will take place in Drogheda. This will be the first time in the history of the Fleadh that it is being held on the north east coast of Ireland.

The annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has grown over the years to be the largest and most unique cultural festival in the world. With attendance numbers in excess of 400,000 one can truly see its importance. Its significance is cultural, economic and social and it is a tribute to all those who kept the cultural traditions of Ireland alive down through the decades.

For a great many musicians, the Fleadh is the culmination of months of hard work and practice as they compete against fellow musicians, singers and dancers at local Fleadhanna so as to achieve the recognition of being an All-Ireland champion.

For others, the Fleadh is a unique and welcoming festival featuring the very best of traditional arts and offering a wide range of activities to be enjoyed by all.

This years Fleadh will have a significant emphasis on youth with children’s mid-morning sessions organised to run from Monday through to Thursday from 11.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. in the Barbican Centre. It will also offer an extensive youth programme which aims to increase student’s awareness of Irish culture and tradition and encourage them to become actively involved in the Fleadh.

Fiddles and bodhrans which were made by the Drogheda Men’s Shed and decorated by secondary school students in the town were on display at the launch and these will be displayed in various shops throughout the town during the Fleadh in August.

Families will be well catered for with lots of events at Seachtain na Gaeilge and the Mid Morning Sessions in the Barbican Centre which will be hosted by Sean O’Laoire, well known singer and Gaeilgeoir from Co. Meath.

Tickets are available to purchase for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018 and the line-up of events, activities and performances, which will take place every day from Sunday 12th through to Sunday 19th August 2018, is available to view at www.fleadhcheoil.ie.

Event Details

The annual Féile Ceol na Locha Summer School in the Gaeltacht area of Tourmakeady, will take place this year from the 13th to the 17th of August. It is a music, culture and language school sponsored mainly by Údaras na Gaeltachta and An Comhairle Ealaíon, and is held at Coláiste Mhuire, with all tuition provided through the medium of Irish.

Now in its 20th year, the school provides training at beginners and intermediate level in the following subjects: button accordion, tin whistle, fiddle, harp, flute, bodhrán, guitar, concertina, sean-nós dancing, irish singing, art and conversational Irish. Most of the teachers are back year after year.

During the week there will be evening sessions in the local pubs where the tutors, students and locals will be playing.

Registration for the Classes/Workshops will commence in Coláiste Mhuire on at 9.30am on Monday. The Classes/Workshops then take place during the mornings between 10am and 1.30pm. The Summer School is open to all ages from 9 years of age, no upper limit.

For the 5 to 9 years age category, there is Óige Ceol na Locha. The activities include games, art, singing.

On the final day of the summer school the teachers and students will participate in a finale concert at Coláiste Mhuire. This concert provides a great opportunity for all the participants to play and dance together.

Then, early on Friday evening there will be a Barbeque for everyone. This will be held at Paddy’s Bar which is in the village.

Over the years, the school has taken on an international flavour, with participants coming from the UK, Europe and the USA.

As already mentioned, all tuition is through the medium of the Irish language.

For full details of the Summer School and to register for a place, please visit the Ceol na Locha website.

Event Details

Now in its 16th year, Masters of Tradition celebrates the best of Irish and International traditional music in its’ purest form through a series of concerts, talks and performances.
The performances

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Event Details

Now in its 16th year, Masters of Tradition celebrates the best of Irish and International traditional music in its’ purest form through a series of concerts, talks and performances.

The performances take place mainly in Bantry House, which is one of Ireland’s most exquisite historic mansions, and in other venues such as St Brendan’s Church.

The event provides a platform where subtle and sometimes obscure elements of Irish traditional music can be heard. By seeking the heart of the music we find a universal voice that has widespread appeal reaching across many cultural and musical barriers.

The festival is headlined by its Artistic Director, Martin Hayes, the fiddler from East Clare, whose distinctive touch and extravagant virtuosity has brought the tradition to new levels. His famous trance-evoking sets with Dennis Cahill have mesmerised audiences all over the world and will do so again this summer!

This year, Masters of Tradition is broadening its reach through two exciting new endeavours Ceolchoirm Rúnda (Secret Concerts) and Cainteanna (Talks).

The Secret Concerts will take place in unusual venues throughout the Bantry area. Admission to these concerts is free but booking is required. If you want to find out who is performing, you’ll just have to come along!

The Cainteanna (Talks) series includes discussions and chats exploring music,
creativity, tradition, philosophy, poetry and history with an occasional tune
or two for good measure. Details on each of these afternoon events are
included throughout the programme.

Also, during the festival impromptu sessions of extraordinary quality continue non-stop day and night on the streets and in the pubs.

Tickets are available to purchase for Masters of Tradition 2018 and the line-up of events, activities and performances, which will take place every day from Wednesday 22nd through to Sunday 26th August 2018, is available to view at www.westcorkmusic.ie/mastersoftradition/programme.

Event Details

The Crotty Galvin Traditional Music Weekend, is one of the most authentic and friendliest festivals you are likely to find. It is held at Garrihys Bar in Moyasta, near the

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Event Details

The Crotty Galvin Traditional Music Weekend, is one of the most authentic and friendliest festivals you are likely to find. It is held at Garrihys Bar in Moyasta, near the stunning Loop Head peninsula and named after three celebrated local musicians, Ellen ‘Nell’ Galvin, PJ Crotty and his brother Peadar Crotty.

Musicians, dancers, singers and storytellers are invited every year to perform for the weekend. This year marks its 16th year with it going from strength to strength each year. The weekend features a great line-up of sessions, ceilis, dancing and music classes.

On Saturday afternoon, there will be free music and dance workshops. These will be between 12 and 4pm and are always well attended. The Workshops/Classes will cover Tin Whistle, Concert Flute, Fiddle, Brush Dance and Séan Nós Dancing.

The Weekend kicks off on Friday night at 8pm with a Seisiún. Then at 9.30pm the weekend will be Officially Opened by Jesse McNamara. This will be followed by another Seisiún and a Ceilí with Dal Gcais Ceilí Band.

On Saturday there will be a visit to the green (weather permitting) with a short prayer and a few tunes and an afternoon Seisiún with the Ann Hayes Group in Garrihy’s which will include a host of very talented young musicians. At 5pm the evening Seisiún will begin and will continue well into the night.

Remember that all Musicians are welcome to join in the Siesiúns!

Sunday starts off with Mass in St Flannans Church, Lisdeen at 9.30am followed by a visit to Lisdeen Cemetery to the graves of Nell Galvin and Peadar Crotty.

An afternoon Seisiún will commence at 2pm and then between 7 and 10pm the Seisiún Mór/Ceilí with Shandrum Ceilí Band will be on full flow in the Front Bar and from 10 onwards Donie Nolan and friends will be in the Lounge for a Ceilí.

Event Details

This September sees the second Fingal Fleadh and Fair take place in Swords. The medieval grounds of Swords Castle and the Main Street in Swords Village will host a programme of

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Event Details

This September sees the second Fingal Fleadh and Fair take place in Swords. The medieval grounds of Swords Castle and the Main Street in Swords Village will host a programme of workshops and recitals.

This event celebrates the strong tradition of music in the Fingal community and will be centred around participation and performance with free Workshops and Concerts by some of the biggest names in traditional Irish music. It is geared very much for all the family with something for everyone to enjoy.

John Spillane will be returning again this year and performing his ‘Songs We Learned in School’ set which proved to be very popular last year.

Swords Castle will be the key venue for the event with free concerts featuring Lumiere, Kíla, Danú, The Whileaways, The Dixie Micks, John Spillane, The Mulcahy Family, Niamh Parsons and many more.

Also in the castle grounds there will be an Artisan Food, Drink & Craft Fair.

This year there will be a Street Seisiún Competition which will take over Swords on Saturday the 8th with the Main Street closed to traffic.

During the festival there will a ‘Session Trail’ around the town which will feature a mixture of performances and open sessions by musicians from all over the country.

The Fingal Fleadh is the perfect place to meet up with all of your friends for a few tunes and to enjoy a weekend of great music.

If you have any queries regarding the Fingal Fleadh & Fair, please email: [email protected]